InSites

What's the Hurry? Why Are So Many Small Projects Schedule-Driven?

In recent years, IPA has observed a worrying trend in small projects (one that is mirrored in large projects as well): We are seeing an uptick in the percentage of small projects considered to be schedule-driven. IPA defines a schedule-driven project as one in which the business is willing to trade capital cost to achieve schedule – in other words, willing to put additional funds toward using...

In March 2015, the IPA Institute delivered our Best Practices for Small Projects course in Las Vegas to attendees from 10 different companies, representing a mix of owner and contractor personnel working in the refining, transportation, fertilizer, chemical, pulp and paper, and pharmaceutical industries.

The 3-day course material, a mix of presentations, case studies, and discussion topics,...

If Not, Here Are Three Tips for the Business and Site Management to Protect Your Site’s Capital in 2015

I think it’s fair to say that St. Nick probably did not, in fact, visit your production site last December. With the rapid decline in oil prices and metal/mineral prices remaining low, companies across various industrial sectors are cutting back on their capital expenditure budgets....

Over the past year, one of IPA’s focus areas has been research and tools to strengthen the business-engineering interface for capital projects. This is a critical, early process to set projects up for success. If alignment is strong, good things tend to follow. For example, when the business is bought into the project objectives, the business is likely to assign the necessary resources to the...